Chapter 1 - Athene Visits Telemachus



Summary:

  • The chapter begins and we find out that Odysseus has not yet reached his home after the war and is trapped on Calypso's island.
  • Odysseus has had trouble getting home because Poseidon is angry with him.
  • Poseidon is not around at the moment so Athene tries to convince Zeus and the other gods to help Odysseus get home.



Major Themes:


  • p 6 - disguise - Athene takes the form of Mentes in order to get in the palace
  • p 6 - hospitality - Telemachus invites Athene into the palace
  • p 10 - growth and dev. of Telemachus - Athene tells him to grow up and become a homeric hero
  • p 10 - homeric simile - Athene compares Telemachus to Orestes
  • p 12 - justice - Telemachus says that the suitors must pay him restitution



Locations Traveled and Mentioned:

  • Ogygia - Calypso's island, where Odysseus is trapped
  • Ithaca


  • Sparta
  • Pylos
  • external image 655026-The-town-of-Pylos-Greece_view.jpg


Study Guide Questions:


Who is holding Odysseus captive?

Calypso


Which god does not pity Odysseus?

Poseidon


We find our first Homeric simile on page 4. Briefly describe it.

Zeus compares the story of Agamemnon and Aegisthus to humans blaming the gods for their troubles.


Who wants to help Odysseus the most?

Athene


Why is Poseidon angry with Odysseus?

Odysseus blinded Polyphemus, the cylopes, who is Poseidon's son.


What does Athene plan to do to help Odysseus?

She's going to send Hermes to Calypso to free Odysseus. Meanwhile, she's going to encourage Telemachus to call an assembly to attempt to get rid of the suitors and then to go to Sparta and Pylos to search for information about his father.


What do Athene and Telemachus talk about?




What does Athene encourage Telemachus to do?




Why is Penelope crying?